KUALA LUMPUR: An Umno lawmaker came under fire Wednesday for saying that women who deny their husbands sex were subjecting them to “psychological and emotional abuse”.

Che Mohamad Zulkifly Jusoh, the Setiu MP from the ruling coalition, said during a parliamentary debate on domestic violence that husbands often suffer emotional attacks rather than physical abuse.

“Even though men are said to be physically stronger than women, there are cases where wives hurt or abuse their husbands in an extreme manner,” he said.

“Usually, it involves wives cursing their husbands – this is emotional abuse. They insult their husbands and refuse his sexual needs.

“All these are types of psychological and emotional abuse.”

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The 58-year-old lawmaker, from Terengganu also said that denying a Muslim man the chance to marry a second wife amounted to abuse.

It is legal for Muslim men in Malaysia to have as many as four wives. But they must obtain permission from an Islamic, or shariah, court to marry more than one.

More than 60 percent of Malaysia’s population of over 30 million are Muslim.

The MP made the comments Tuesday during a debate on amendments to domestic violence legislation.

It is not the first time a lawmaker has sparked controversy with comments about women – a member of Malaysia’s ruling coalition said in April that girls as young as nine were “physically and spiritually” ready for marriage.